The house is nearly done, and when it is complete you'll be able to go inside and touch and…read moreexperience everything, since it will all be reproductions....they completely explained the archeological research and how they located the site for the house. In addition the presentation includes information about the enslaved persons who lived at the house, and the artifacts they located that related to these people. They also have a nice IPAD presentation that fully explained the site and what you are seeing.....also even though it was a perfect late summer day there was not a crowd....I can hardly wait to come back and see the property when the house is open. And this is a bonus, they have an upcoming day set aside for the deaf and hard of hearing...Sunday, October 4 - 2:00 p.m. Featuring a guided tour led by Archaeology Laboratory Supervisor Melanie Marquis and translated by ReBecca Bennett using American Sign Language: Archaeology Laboratory Washington House Site Museum Gallery Exhibits Eighteenth-Century Demonstration Garden Great way to be inclusive...Thanks

Most unfriendly, unwelcoming staff. A smile would have been nice, but they spent 5 minutes telling…read moreus why we can't go inside for a tour today with a sour face. Thanks Karen. Won't be back

Chatham Manor is the kind of place that makes you slow your steps without realizing it--because it…read morefeels important. Built in the 1760s, this isn't just a historic home; it's a front-row seat to centuries of American history layered in one breathtaking setting. From its elegant Georgian architecture to the sweeping view of the Rappahannock River, everything about Chatham feels intentional, enduring, and quietly powerful. During the Civil War, this estate became Union headquarters after Fredericksburg and was transformed into one of the largest field hospitals of the war. Standing on the lawn, it's impossible not to imagine rows of tents and wounded soldiers stretching toward the river. Inside the house, history echoes--Clara Barton moved through these rooms tending the injured, Dr. Mary Walker broke barriers here with her fearless medical service, and Walt Whitman visited, absorbing the human cost of war that would later shape his writing. Few places can claim that kind of convergence of compassion, intellect, and resolve. What makes Chatham extraordinary is how alive it feels. This isn't a rope-and-glass museum experience. It's immersive, thoughtful, and deeply moving without being heavy-handed. The house, the grounds, the views--everything works together to remind you that pivotal moments didn't happen in textbooks; they happened in real rooms, with real people, making impossible decisions. Chatham Manor is beautiful, haunting, and awe-inspiring in the truest sense. If you love history that gives you goosebumps and leaves you thinking long after you leave, this place deserves a spot at the top of your list.

This is one of my favorite "hidden gems" in Fredericksburg. It's part of Fredericksburg National…read moreBattlefield Park and there is an informative display and film inside the manor house if you're interested in the history of the property. The standouts for me though are the gorgeous formal gardens and the amazing views across the river to historic old town Fredericksburg. There is no bad time to visit but early spring for cherry blossoms, daffodils, tulips and dogwoods and late spring for Iris and peonies (and the early roses) are my favorite times to visit. Parking is free, the gardens are free and the museum is a suggested donation.

During the bloody Civil War battle of Fredericksburg, the Confederate Army devastated the Union…read moretroops as they tried to charge the hill at Marye's Heights, leaving wounded and dying soldiers scattered across the battlefield. When night fell after the day's pitched battle, countless (overwhelmingly Union) soldiers lay freezing and dying on the ground, where both sides could clearly hear them crying out for water. Hearing these dying pleas, Confederate soldier Richard Rowland Kirkland, decided to do something about their pain. Kirkland asked the commanding general if he could head out to the battlefield and provide water to the wounded men, but his request was denied. However after listening to the men's cries a while longer, Kirkland pressed the point and the general allowed him to take to the exposed battleground and provide aid. Kirkland's request to carry a white flag so that he would not be shot by the active Union soldiers was denied. Undeterred, the brave soldier set out with his canteen to soothe the dying men. Though many were apprehensive at first, the Union forces soon caught on to his charity and did not fire on Kirkland. The generous soldier was able to make several separate trips out onto the battlefield with water, each time risking being shot by the tense men on either side. Kirkland's selfless actions earned him the nickname "Angel of Marye's Heights." In 1965, a statue honoring Kirkland was unveiled at the Fredericksburg battlefield site. The Sons of Confederate Veterans posthumously awarded Kirkland their Confederate Medal of Honor, which was created long after the war's end in 1977. The lone bronze memorial memorial commemorates Kirkland's bravery and humanity in the face of imminent death.

Who knew?? I had no idea this small hamlet of Partlow existed, but we ran across it on our travels!…read moreSo whenever I see a flag flying, it catches my eye and I'm drawn to check it out! Partlow is an unincorporated community in Spotsylvania county, with a population of about 2,000. It's close to both Fredericksburg and Lake Anna. Partlow is named after a Captain John Partlow, who served in the revolutionary war. This town is also the historical site of the plantation where Kunta Kinte enslaved. John Partlow and one of his descendants, established the first post office in Partlow in the early 19th century. This "newer" post office is a simple gray building with a porch and handicap accessibility. The lawn is well maintained and the the shrubbery bed added to the homey feeling of this post office. Inside was a bit cozy, decorated with curtain valances, a nice wooden desk and several plants. There was also a shadow box with vintage post office memorabilia, a cool stamp mug, and collectible stamps. There was also a box with free books for their customers which was a nice touch! The historical significance of this post office earns the 4 stars for me! There's a drive by Mail Drop box on the side of the building. No passport services. Hours 7:30-12,1:00-4:00 M-F Saturday 8:00-10:00

In Fredericksburg VA, Tony and I stopped at the Monument of Mary Washington which is the beloved…read moreMother of President George Washington. His birthday is just around the corner. I parked at the curb, turned on my emergency flashers and braved the 18 degree weather at 7am. With the icy wind whipping around me, I climbed the stone steps to the walkway to her tomb below the tall slender Monument on her burial place. This is located just down the street from Kenmore Plantation, Home of her daughter, Betty Washington (sister of George) who was married to Fielding Lewis. Behind Mary Washington Tomb is the Graves of the Gordon Family who also lived at Kenmore Plantation. This is Free to visit so if you are in the area stop by and show your respect!!!

Wonderful stone stele: like the Washington Monument in D.C. in memory of President George…read moreWashington's mother Mary! Nice grounds with profuse green grass, small cemetery, playground and fences. Lots of places to park and a neat spot away from the townie hostility at the Fredericksburg visitor center. Tucked-away treat. Bring a drink. Rebel review: 5

I have been coming here for years. Aside from the book collection and children's programs, the…read moreonline resources have been great. I like the downtown branch best.

We were walking around Fredericksburg on our road trip and stopped by the library. Someone told us…read moreit used to be a school house. Very pretty building! Seems like they have a lot of events

This is not a grand plantation home with velvet ropes and dramatized plaques. This is the real…read moreplace where history quietly ended for one of the Civil War's most consequential figures. The small, plain building you see is the plantation office of the Chandler family, where General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was brought after being accidentally shot by his own men at Chancellorsville in May 1863. His left arm was amputated nearby, and pneumonia soon followed. He died here days later, reportedly saying, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." If that line doesn't stop you in your tracks, check your pulse. What makes this site powerful is its restraint. There's no spectacle. No romanticized grandeur. Just a quiet structure sitting beside open fields and a railroad line, which adds an eerie reminder of how the war--and the country--was rapidly changing. You're standing at the intersection of brilliance, tragedy, faith, and the brutal reality of 19th-century medicine. The space encourages reflection rather than celebration. Jackson's reputation is complex, and the site doesn't shy away from that. It presents his death as a human moment inside a massive, devastating conflict rather than a mythic ending to a legend. If you're a serious history lover, this is a must-stop. It's sobering, authentic, and deeply moving--proof that sometimes the smallest places carry the heaviest history. Pro tip: Visit quietly. This is one of those places where silence feels appropriate.

This is an important piece of civil war history. We have been meaning to stop for years and finally…read moredid. There are plenty of boards to explain the whole property and the campaign in the area. I honestly didn't know that this was home to a prison camp and was happy to learn it. If you're at the speedway or even just stopping for gas at Sheetz, take a half hour and get some history. It's totally free and well maintained.

Tony and I was enjoying tremendously all the old historic buildings and houses in Fredericksburg VA…read morethis past weekend. We visited quite a few and definitely will be coming back to the area in season and less Covid-19 active meanwhile we will continue you our version of social distancing by traveling during off season and viewing many from the sidewalk or the warmth of our car The Historical John Lewis Store was built in 1749 as a General Store for his son Fielding Lewis to run and operate. Fielding Lewis owned the Plantation Kenmore that stood near by. Building is gorgeous and seems to be quite sound highly recommend you checking it out